The NHL saw a flurry of contract extensions over the past few days ahead of the deadline to sign under the old collective bargaining agreement.

The new rules, which kicked in on Wednesday, cut the maximum term for new contracts from eight years to seven. Additionally, signing bonuses are now capped at 60 per cent of a contract’s total value.

Several restricted free agents scrambled to sign extensions with their current clubs this week to take advantage of the old rules, but that wasn’t the case with Edmonton Oilers winger Matt Savoie, whose entry-level contract will expire next summer.

The 22-year-old established himself as a key part of Edmonton’s forward group last season and will be due for a hefty raise. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman was asked Wednesday whether the club has considered signing Savoie early.

“As far as his contract, I’m not going to comment on that,” he said. “But, you know, I’m confident that’s going to work itself out in time. I think the landscape is shifting around the league. We saw a lot of deals the last couple of days, and even over the summer, with where the salary cap is headed. Each team has a different puzzle than we do. I think that’s kind of part of it is trying to figure out what’s strategically the best move on how we approach all of our contracts. So, in time we’ll get to that.”

Over the last few days, a couple of other 22-year-old forwards signed long-term extensions. They could offer a hint at what to expect for Savoie’s deal. Fraser Minten, who put up 36 points in 66 games last season, re-upped with the Boston Bruins on a seven-year deal worth an average annual value of $7.2 million. And on the final day of the old CBA, Noah Östlund, who put up 27 points in 60 games with the Buffalo Sabres, signed an eight-year deal with an AAV of $6.6 million.

The Oilers first acquired Savoie from the Sabres in exchange for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio back in the summer of 2024, but spent most of his first year in the organization in the AHL. Last season, he recorded 18 goals and 37 points in 82 games. Savoie spent more time in the top six next to Connor McDavid down the stretch and produced at a 65-point pace over the final 24 games. He punctuated that hot finish with a hat trick in the final game against the Vancouver Canucks.

“I think that Matt had a great season last year, in particular, the second half of the season,” said Bowman. “I think once he found his stride there, probably right around the Olympic break when he came back, is when his game sort of went to that next level.”

Savoie will be out of action to start his sophomore campaign due to an injury he suffered during offseason training. He’s expected to return to the lineup in late October.

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